The All Blacks and British and Irish Lions battle it out this Saturday night in what will be a fiercely contested 3rd and deciding test match. After winning the first test 30-15 New Zealand were beaten in Wellington by the Lions 24-21 to set up a 3rd test match that has history in the offing should the All Blacks lose.
Who: All Blacks v British and Irish Lions
Where: Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand
When: 7:30pm NZST, Saturday, 8th July 2017
The Lions will enter the match with confidence after converting their numerical player advantage in the second test as Sonny Bill Williams was red carded 25 minutes into the game at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium. Playing with 14 men, Beauden Barrett at first-five directed the All Blacks play very well, but it was to no avail due to a flawed tactical substitution and a fired up and determined Lions team. As a result of the sending off, AB’s management made an inextricable substitution replacing a seasoned powerhouse forward Jerome Kaino for a young and inexperienced mid-fielder, Nani Laumepe. The addition of Laumepe seriously weakened what was already a suspect AB’s backline that were missing experienced players in key positions. Wet weather in both tests has not been conducive to the high octane counter attack and phase play we are used to seeing from the New Zealanders. It could be said that the New Zealand backs currently lack cohesion, and are set to be under scrutiny by the Lions on Saturday night.
So the stage is set for the 3rd test. A confident Lions pack versus an All Blacks side with a weakened backline, but playing in the fortress of New Zealand rugby, Eden Park.
The prediction.
While the Lions have played some scintillating test rugby so far, they have shown weaknesses in their play, particularly in their ability to sustain 80mins of high calibre rugby. We are set for another wet night which works well in favour of the Lions. Passion, and a chance of an historic victory over the All Blacks ensures the Lions will leave nothing on the field and we are sure to witness a titanic battle between two teams with plenty to play for.
The All Blacks are not where they want to be right now. The first test was close thanks to the intensity and attacking flair of the Lions played, that set them up for victory in the second test. Although they played 55 minutes with an extra man, the Lions will have the belief they can win the final match, all too aware of the vulnerabilities in the New Zealand backline.
In conclusion, it is hard to see the All Blacks being beaten on Saturday night and so it begs the question, by how much will New Zealand win by. My prediction for the 3rd and final test this Saturday 8th June is:
All Blacks win by 8 points.